Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids with Manganese(III) Acetate in the Presence of Chloride Ion

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.59.3153

The reaction of 3-phenylpropenoic acids with manganese(III) acetate - Cl^- complex yielded 1,2,2-trichloro-1-phenylethanes, 1-acetoxy-2,2-dichloro-1-phenylethanes, and 2,2-dichloro-1-phenylethanols. (E)-2,3-Diphenylpropenoic acids gave 2,2-dichloro-1,2-diphenylethanones and 2-acetoxy-1,2-diphenylethanones. 3,3-Diphenylpropenoic acids yielded 2,2-dichloro-1,1-diphenylethenes, 1-acetoxy-2,2-dichloro-1,1-diphenylethanes, 2,2-dichloro-1,1-diphenyl-1-ethanols, and 2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylethanal.Fluorenylideneacetic acid gave 9-chloro-9-(dichloromethyl)fluorene, 9-acetoxy-9-(dichloromethyl)fluorene, and 9-fluorenone. 1-Cyclohexenecarboxylic acid yielded 1,2-dichlorocyclohexanecarboxylic acid and 1-acetoxy-2-chlorocyclohexanecarboxylic acid.The reaction can be explained in terms of a free-radical mechanism involving manganese(III) acetate - Cl^- complexation, addition of Cl^. radical, decarboxylation, and the oxidation of chloroethenes which are the reaction intermediates.